Steering lock device

ABSTRACT

A combination ignition control and steering lock device for motor vehicles adapted to lock a steering column in two mutually independent steps. To lock the steering column, an ignition key is first rotated to the lock position and then a retaining means which has been in engagement with the key is rotated to a position in which the key can be disengaged therefrom and withdrawn from key cylinder. An accidental or erroneous locking of the steering column during operation of the motor vehicle is avoided in this manner.

United States Patent Shimizu STEERING LOCK DEVICE [72] Inventor: YasushiShimizu, Ohmiya, Japan [73] Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited,

Yokohama City; Kanto Seiki Company, Limited, Ohmiya City, Japan 22Filed: May 5, 1971 21 App]. No.: 140,469

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 12, 1970 Japan ..45/40396 52U.s. Cl. ..70/252, 70/372, 70/389, 200/44 51 lm. Cl. ..B60r 25/02, E05b11/00 [58] Field of Search ..70/252, 372, 389; 200/44 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,921 6/1930 Fairchild ..70/252 NOV. 14,1972 1,835,725 12/1931 Thompson et a]. ..70/372 2,894,082 7/ 1959Collotta ..200/44 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,521,575 3/1968France ..70/252 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney-JohnL/ezdey [57] ABSTRACT A combination ignition control and steering lockdevice for motor vehicles adapted to lock a steering column in twomutually independent steps. To lock the steering column, an ignition keyis first rotated to the lock position and then a retaining means whichhas been in engagement with the key is rotated to a position in whichthe key can be disengaged therefrom and withdrawn from key cylinder. Anaccidental or erroneous locking of the steering column during operationof the motor vehicle is avoided in this manner.

8 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDR HMQTZ 3,702,550

' sum 1 0r 2 INVENTOR YASUSHI SHIMIZM 6 ATTOZNEZ PATENTEDHuv 14 I9723.702.550

sum 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR YASHSAI I SHIMIZIA ATTORN STEERING LOCK DEVICE Thisinvention relates to a combination ignition control and steering lockdevice for use in motor vehicles. The device to which this inventionappertains is constructed to control an ignition switch for an engineand to lock a steering column when an ignition key is withdrawn from akey cylinder. In spite of such dual functions, the device is hereincalled merely the steering lock device for simplicity sake.

Prior art steering lock devices are constructed in such a manner thatthe lock device is conditioned to lock the steering column only afterthe ignition key has been withdrawn from the key cylinder so as toprevent the steering column from being locked even when the key isrotated to the lock position accidentally or erroneously by a vehicledriver or occupant during cruising. It, however, happens that thevehicle driver removes the key from the key cylinder before he knows asin rotating the key for coasting operation, thereby effecting unduelocking of the steering column and consequently inviting a seriousdanger. This accident is traced to the fact that the key can bewithdrawn by a relatively simple manipulation if the engine is shutdown.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedsteering lock device which provides reliability in the locking of thesteering column for theftpreventive purposes.

Another object is to provide an improved steering lock device which isadapted to prevent the steering column .from unduly locked duringcruising of the motor vehicle.

Still another object is to provide an improved steering lock device inwhich the ignition key can not be withdrawn if the engine is shut downand the key is rotated to the lock position.

In order to achieve these objects of this invention, the steering lockdevice herein disclosed has a retaining means which is rotatablerelative to the key cylinder. The retaining means is rotated togetherwith the ignition key when the key is rotated to rotate the key cylinderto an operating position in which the ignition is turned on or in whicha starting motor for the engine is energized. When the key is rotatedcounter in a reverse direction from such position, the retaining meansis left in situ, preventing the key from being released therefrom. Tohave the ignition key withdrawn from the key cylinder, it is required tofirstly rotate the key to the lock position and to secondly rotate theretaining means to a position in which the key can be releasedtherefrom. Undue locking of the steering column can be prevented inthese two consecutive steps which are not related to each other.

Accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of thisinvention in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cut-away view showing an example of an internalconstruction of the steering lock device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded partially cut-away view showing operational partsof the lock device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective partially cut-away view showing a retainingmember forming part of the lock device shown in the preceding figures;

FIG. 4 is also a perspective view of an example of an ignition key foruse in the shown lock device; and

FIGS. 5a to 5d are front end views of the lock device in differentoperational conditions.

Referring concurrently to FIGS. 1 to 4, the steering lock deviceimplementing this invention includes, as customary, a rotatable keycylinder 10 which is rotated by an ignition key 11 inserted thereinto.The key cylinder 10 is rotatable accommodated in a generally cylindricalhousing 12. A plurality of tumbler elements 13 having different lengthsextend through the housing 12 and the key cylinder 10 for operativeengagement with a notched edge 11a of the ignition key 11 in a givenangular position. The housing 12 is encased securely in a framestructure 14. The key cylinder 10 extends throughout the housing 12 andis operatively connected at its leading end to an ignition switch (notshown) through a spindle 15 shown in FIG. 2. This construction of theshown lock device per se is well known in the art and may be changed andmodified in numerous manners.

The lock device according to this invention further includes a retainingmeans 16 which is rotatably mounted on the front end portion of theframe structure 14. As best seen in FIG. 3, this retaining means 16 islargely made up of an outer annular member 16a and an inner disc member16b which is positioned to be substantially concentrial with the outerannular member. The annular member 16a and the disc member 16b aresecurely connected to each other by a suitable number of connectingmembers which are herein shown as two by reference numerals 16c and 16d.The annular member 16a is circumferentially slidably mounted on theframe structure 14, as best seen in FIG. 1.

The disc member 16b has formed substantially centrally thereof anopening 16c which is configurated in a manner to admit passage of thekey cylinder 10 and the ignition key 11 inserted thereinto. The discmember 16b, moreover, has on its rear side an annular sunk portion 16fsurrounding the opening 16e. A recess 163 is formed radially in thisannular sunk portion 16f, forming part of the opening l6e. This recess16g is configurated in a manner to circumferentially slidably receive atop edge 11b of the ignition key 11. The ignition key 11 is thus passedthrough the opening 16e and the recess 16g when inserted into the keycylinder 10. To admit rotation of the ignition key 11 relative to theretaining means 16, an engaging portion which is herein shown as arecess 11c is formed at the top edge 11b of the key, forced to beslidably engageable with peripheral edge of the annular sunk portion 16fwhen the key 11 is rotated together with the key cylinder 10 in thehousing 12. The disc member 16b further includes a land 16!: which ismounted radially on the annular sunk portion 16f and located relative tothe recess 163. This land 16h engages with the top edge 11b of theignition key 11 when the ignition key is rotated relatively thereto sothat the retaining means 16 is rotated with the key.

The lock device is capped at its front end by a cap member 17 so as toprovide visual indication of the lock device. This cap member 17 hasformed in its front end wall an opening 17a for admitting insertion androtation of the ignition key 1 1 therethrough and further has arearwardly extending peripheral wall 17b having formed thereincircumferential recesses one of which is designated by reference numeral170. The cap member 17 thus constructed is securely mounted on a frontend portion of the frame structure 15 through an annular opening definedbetween the outer annular member 16a and the inner disc member 16b ofthe retaining means 16. The cap member 17 has its peripheral wall 17bpermitted to clear over the connecting members 16c and 16d through thecircumferential recesses such as denoted by 17c. The retaining means 16is thus permitted to rotate relative to the cap member 17 when the key11 is rotated to engage with the land 16h of the disc member 16b.

If desired, a steel ball 18 loaded by a compression spring 19 may bemounted between the front end face of the housing 12 and the rear endface of the disc member 16b thereby to provide a click feeling ofcontrol over the rotation of the retaining means 16. For this purpose, ahole 10a may be formed in the front end wall of the housing 12 toreceive the spring 19 therein (FIG. 2) and substantially roundeddepressions l6i and 16j may be formed in the rear end wall of the discmember 16b to receive the ball 18 therein (FIG. 3). The spring loadedsteel ball 18 may be mounted in any desired number, although only onesteel ball is herein shown as used.

The frame structure 14 is provided with front extensions 14a and 14bwhich extend from the front end of the frame structure and which arepositioned at a predetermined angular spacing from each other forengagement with the connecting members 16b and 16c, as will be discussedlater.

In addition to the above mentioned parts and elements, the steering lockmember includes a locking means which is adapted to be in lockingengagement with the steering column when the key is rotated to the lockposition and withdrawn from the key cylinder. Since the construction andoperation of such locking means are well known in the art and since thisinvention could be understood without resort to clarifying such lockingmeans, discussion thereabout is herein omitted.

As seen in FIGS. 5a to 5d, the steering lock device has five differentposition, a LOCK position to lock the steering column, an OFF positionto turn off the ignition, an ACC position to energize accessoryappliances (such as a radio, air conditioner etc.), an ON position toturn on the ignition, and a START position to energize the startingmotor. These positions can be selected by turning the key 1 1 relativeto the cap member 17.

The angular spacing between the recess 16g and the land 16h of theretaining means 16 is determined in a manner to permit the ignition key11 to rotate between the LOCK and ACC positions independently of theretaining means 16. In other words, rotation of the key 11 together withthe key cylinder is not followed by rotation of the retaining means aslong as the key is rotated between the LOCK and ACC positions throughthe OFF position. The clockwise rotation of the retaining means 16through engagement between the land 16h and the top edge 11b is limitedby engagement between the connecting member 166 and 16d and the frontextensions 14a and 14b. Thus, the retaining means 16 is permitted torotate between the ACC and START positions through the ON position.

When, in operation, the retaining means 16 is first manually rotatedrelatively to the cap member 17 so that the recess 16b in the discmember 16b is moved to the LOCK position as illustrated in FIG. 5a. Theignition key 1 1 is then inserted into the key cylinder 10 and rotatedtogether with the key cylinder until the key is brought into engagementwith the land 16h of the retaining member 16 in the ACC position, asseen in FIG. 5b. When the ignition key 11 is further rotated clockwisefrom the ACC position, the retaining means 16 is rotated accordinglythrough engagement between the land 16h of the retaining means and theignition key. When the key 11 and accordingly the key cylinder 10 aremoved to the ON position, then the ignition switch connected to the keycylinder through the spindle 15 (FIG. 2) is actuated to energize anignition coil (not shown) connected thereto. When the key 11 is stillfurther rotated to the START position with the recess 16g aligned withthe marking of the OFF position on the cap member 17, as shown in FIG.5c, the retaining means 16 is also moved to its clockwise limit positionwith its connecting members and 16d held in engagement with the sideedges of the spaced front extensions 14a and 14b. At the same time, theignition switch is moved and connected to a contact (not shown) forenergizing a starting motor for the engine. The steel ball 18 which isbiased toward the retaining means 16 by the associated spring 19 is nowcaptured in the rounded depression l6i in the disc member 16b of theretaining means so that the retaining member is securely positioned.

If, in this condition, the key 11 which is biased counter clockwise by aspring action is moved back to the ON position, the retaining means 16is left in situ because the land 16h is now released from the key 11. Ifthe key 1 1 is rotated counter clockwise to the LOCK position, theretaining means 16 still remains in the START position as seen in FIG.5d. The recess 16g is thus still held in alignment with the marking ofthe OFF position, the key 1 1 is prevented from being withdrawn from thekey cylinder 10 due to engagement between the recess 11c in the key andthe annular sunk portion 16f of the disc member 16b of the retainingmeans 16. The key 11 can be withdrawn from the key cylinder 10 only ifthe retaining means 16 is manually rotated counter clockwise to the LOCKposition in which the key 11 is in alignment with the recess 16g and inwhich the steel ball 18 is captured in the rounded depression 16j in thedisc member of the retaining means 16 so that the rotational action ofthe retaining member is controlled with a click action. The key 11 canbe withdrawn from the key cylinder 10 only in this manner.

It will now be appreciated from the foregoing description that the keyis removed from the key cylinder in two consecutive steps which are notrelated to each other through provision of a retaining means having arecess and an associated land. Necessity of such two mutuallyindependent steps in removing the key from the key cylinder to lock thesteering column will contribute to prevention of accidental or erroneouslocking of the steering column during cruising of the motor vehicle. Thesteering lock device according to the invention thus provides reliablelocking operation of the steering column.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination ignition control and steering lock device comprising arotatable key cylinder which is rotated by an ignition key insertedthereinto, said key cylinder being operatively connected to an ignitionswitch, a generally cylindrical housing accommodating said key cylinderrotatable therein, a frame structure in which said housing is securelyencased, a locking means for locking a steering column when said key iswithdrawn from said key cylinder, and a retaining means rotatablymounted on a front end portion of said frame structure and retainingsaid key inserted into and rotated with said key cylinder, saidretaining means being rotated together with said key when the key isrotated to accordingly rotate said key cylinder to an operating positionin which said ignition switch is moved to turn on the ignition or toenergize an engine starting motor and being left in situ when said keyis rotated in a reverse direction to accordingly rotated said keycylinder from said position, said retaining means being manually rotatedin the reverse direction to a position in which said key can be releasedfrom the retaining means and withdrawn from said key cylinder when saidkey and accordingly said key cylinder is in a lock position to lock saidsteering column.

2. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 1, in which said retaining means has formed therein a recess forslidably receiving a top edge of said key and a land angularly spacedapart from said recess for engaging with said key when the key is movedto rotate said key cylinder to said operating position, said land beingleft in situ when said key is rotated in the reverse to rotate said keycylinder from said position.

3. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 2, in which said retaining means includes an outer annular memberrotatably mounted on the front end portion of said frame structure, aninner disc member which is substantially concentric with said annularmember and connecting members securely connecting said disc member tosaid annular member, said disc member having formed therein an openingto admit passage of said key and an annular sunk portion formed on arear face of the disc member to surround said opening, said recess beingformed radially in said annular sunk portion and forming part of saidopening and said land being mounted radially on said annular sunkportion, said angular spacing between said recess and land beingselected to permit said key to rotate between said lock position and aposition intermediate the lock position and said operating position.

4. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 2, in which said key has formed in its top edge an engagingportion for circumferentially slidably receiving said top edge of thekey when the key is rotated from said lock position.

5. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 3, in which at least one spring-loaded steel ball is positionedbetween said disc member and said key cylinder, said ball being biasedtoward said rotating member and captured in a rounded depression formedin said retaining member when said key cylinder is rotated with saidretaining means to said operating position in which said starting motoris energized.

6. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 5, in which said rounded depression is formed in the rear wall ofsaid retaining member and spring-loaded steel ball being captured insaid rounded depression when said retaining member is manually rotatedto a position in which said key can be released from said retainingmember.

7. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 3, in which said frame structure includes front extensionsextending from a front end of the frame structure for engagement withsaid connecting members to limit rotation of said retaining means to aposition corresponding to said operating position.

8. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 1, further comprising a cap member securely mounted on said framestructure to provide visual indication of the positions of the device.

1. A combination ignition control and steering lock device comprising arotatable key cylinder which is rotated by an ignition key insertedthereinto, said key cylinder being operatively connected to an ignitionswitch, a generally cylindrical housing accommodating said key cylinderrotatable therein, a frame structure in which said housing is securelyencased, a locking means for locking a steering column when said key iswithdrawn from said key cylinder, and a retaining means rotatablymounted on a front end portion of said frame structure and retainingsaid key inserted into and rotated with said key cylinder, saidretaining means being rotated together with said key when the key isrotated to accordingly rotate said key cylinder to an operating positionin which said ignition switch is moved to turn on the ignition or toenergize an engine starting motor and being left in situ when said keyis rotated in a reverse direction to accordingly rotated said keycylinder from said position, said retaining means being manually rotatedin the reverse direction to a position in which said key can be releasedfrom the retaining means and withdrawn from said kEy cylinder when saidkey and accordingly said key cylinder is in a lock position to lock saidsteering column.
 2. A combination ignition control and steering lockdevice according to claim 1, in which said retaining means has formedtherein a recess for slidably receiving a top edge of said key and aland angularly spaced apart from said recess for engaging with said keywhen the key is moved to rotate said key cylinder to said operatingposition, said land being left in situ when said key is rotated in thereverse to rotate said key cylinder from said position.
 3. A combinationignition control and steering lock device according to claim 2, in whichsaid retaining means includes an outer annular member rotatably mountedon the front end portion of said frame structure, an inner disc memberwhich is substantially concentric with said annular member andconnecting members securely connecting said disc member to said annularmember, said disc member having formed therein an opening to admitpassage of said key and an annular sunk portion formed on a rear face ofthe disc member to surround said opening, said recess being formedradially in said annular sunk portion and forming part of said openingand said land being mounted radially on said annular sunk portion, saidangular spacing between said recess and land being selected to permitsaid key to rotate between said lock position and a positionintermediate the lock position and said operating position.
 4. Acombination ignition control and steering lock device according to claim2, in which said key has formed in its top edge an engaging portion forcircumferentially slidably receiving said top edge of the key when thekey is rotated from said lock position.
 5. A combination ignitioncontrol and steering lock device according to claim 3, in which at leastone spring-loaded steel ball is positioned between said disc member andsaid key cylinder, said ball being biased toward said rotating memberand captured in a rounded depression formed in said retaining memberwhen said key cylinder is rotated with said retaining means to saidoperating position in which said starting motor is energized.
 6. Acombination ignition control and steering lock device according to claim5, in which said rounded depression is formed in the rear wall of saidretaining member and spring-loaded steel ball being captured in saidrounded depression when said retaining member is manually rotated to aposition in which said key can be released from said retaining member.7. A combination ignition control and steering lock device according toclaim 3, in which said frame structure includes front extensionsextending from a front end of the frame structure for engagement withsaid connecting members to limit rotation of said retaining means to aposition corresponding to said operating position.
 8. A combinationignition control and steering lock device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a cap member securely mounted on said frame structure toprovide visual indication of the positions of the device.